28 FIRST RETORT OX ECONOMIC J51OLOGY. 



THE PITH MOTH. 



Blastodacna hellereUu, Dup. 



This is a fairly common pest in Worcester and Hereford, where 

 much damage is done to apple trees by the larvae tunnelling into 

 the buds and shoots. 



Li FE-Hl STORY. 



The moths appear in July, and the larvae become noticeable in 

 the late summer. The egg stage has not been observed. On hatching 

 the larvae commence to feed upon the leaves, next making their way 

 into tfie buds, and later boring into the rind of a shoot near to a 

 bud, and here they remain during the winter. With the commence- 

 ment of spring they start tunnelling up the shoot until they reach the 

 apex. Here they pupate towards the end of June, the perfect insect 

 appearing some three weeks later. 



PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL MEASURES. 



But little can be clone beyond hand-picking the dead shoots early 

 in June, and close pruning. Both pickings and primings should be 

 burnt. 



THE APPLE LEAF MINER. 



Lyonctiti clci'ckcUd, Linn. 



I gave a short account of this insect in my 5th Report, since then 

 I have seen other cases in the Midlands and elsewhere, and it has 

 been possible to make a careful study of the life-history. 



LlFE-HlSTORY. 



The eggs are deposited one on each leaf, but three or four larvae 

 are not uncommon in a single leaf. The larva hatches out in April 

 (first noticed on April 26th, 1910), and immediately commences to 

 bore into the leaf. It feeds upon the soft tissue and thus forms a 

 sinuous tunnel, which gradually enlarges as the larva increases in size. 

 When full-fed it measures 6-7 mm. in length, and varies in colour from 

 pale to deep apple-green. The duration of the larval period varies 

 considerably, some being mature in thirty days, whilst others do not 

 pupate until forty. 



